Liu Li-ling, deputy chief of the DOH's Bureau of Medical Affairs, pointed out that medical devices made from bovine bone are currently forbidden in the country unless they are sent to the DOH for inspection in advance and obtain a permit from the department.

As no permits have been issued by the department so far, it is safe to say that any bovine bone-based medical devices currently available on the market are illegal, Liu said.

Liu made the remarks in response to a claim by opposition Kuomintang Legislator Chu Chun-hsiao that approximately 30 percent of dental clinics in the country use bone graft material made of bovine bone from mad cow disease-affected countries, such as the United States, a practice which the legislator said exposes patients to the risk of being infected with the deadly disease.

In some cases, bone grafting is required in dental implant treatment, and bovine bone is one of the options for bone expletive substances in the process that is aimed at regenerating lost bone and tissue to create a better quality bone site for the implantation.

According to Liu, anyone who is caught manufacturing, importing, selling or supplying unlicensed medical devices will be subject to imprisonment of up to three years and a maximum fine of NT$100,000.

Lu said that members of the general public can call the DOH's hot line at 0800-625748 to report any such activities.

Peng Ming-hsing, a section chief at the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine's Animal Quarantine Division, said that although there has not been any evidence showing that using bone material from animals infected with mad cow disease in bone grafting will transmit the disease to the receivers, the government should still deal with the issue carefully to minimize the possibility of infection among the country's citizens.